# Working memory is efficient when it stores relevant information
We have Working memory is limited to four chunks. Even though Chunking increases working memory capacity, what differentiates individuals' optimum use is the relevance of information being stored there. If you can keep what you have in your head relevant, you are more efficient than others.
# References
Goldstein, Cognitive Psychology (pp. 148-149).
The study by Vogel et al. (2005) was a groundbreaking study because it was one of the first to provide hard evidence for the suggestion that individual difference in working memory capacity do not just reflect how many items can be stored but how more efficiently irrelevant information can be kept out. In other words, working memory capacity variations are not about the absolute size of storage space but about only keeping relevant information in there.
# Backlinks
- Deploying attentional control reduces irrelevant information in working memory
- Working memory is efficient when it stores relevant information. What information that goes in working memory is being controlled by our central executive (based on Baddeley's model of working memory). Therefore the ability to deploy our Attentional control can make our use of working memory be more efficient.
- Negative thoughts consumes working memory capacity
- Given that we have Working memory limits, negative thoughts that linger in our heads also consume that capacity, which means we'll not be able to perform as efficiently as we could (Working memory is efficient when it stores relevant information)
- How might we use our limited working memory capacity more effectively?